NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 1058: Distance
Villain Ch 1058. Distance
When the door finally closed, the room fell into a heavy silence. Allen stayed where he was, leaning against the table with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Mila. Despite his relaxed posture, there was still a clear distance between them, not just physically but emotionally.
"Now it's just the two of us. Speak," Allen said, his tone calm, almost too casual for the situation.
It was clear he wasn't interested in small talk, and Mila knew this was her chance—this was the moment she had wanted.
She took a deep breath, trying to muster her courage, but her eyes flicked to the CCTV in the corner of the room, reminding her of the controlled environment Allen had created. It felt like a barrier between them.
Finally, she looked back at him, meeting his gaze, her voice barely more than a murmur. "You… don't believe me." She was talking about Allen's order for his staff to keep an eye on them.
Allen's expression didn't change. He glanced briefly at the CCTV and then returned his gaze to her. "Of course," he replied, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "You've tried to trap me before. This is just a natural reaction."
Mila winced slightly at his bluntness, but she couldn't argue with him. He was right. She had pushed boundaries with him in the past, testing him in ways that, in hindsight, probably made him wary of her. Still, hearing him say it so plainly stung. "But you didn't act like this in the game," she said, her tone quieter now, almost as if she were seeking the Allen she knew.
Allen's expression remained cool. "In the game, the maximum you could do is duel me," he replied evenly. "Here? I don't know what kind of game you might try to throw at me. I'm already risking my reputation just by giving you this chance."
His words hit hard. Mila felt her chest tighten as the truth sank in. He was right again, of course. This was the real world, and the stakes were higher. Allen had every reason to be cautious, especially with his reputation on the line.
Mila nodded repeatedly, her thoughts racing. She understood now—maybe more than ever—why he was so guarded. She hadn't made things easy for him in the past, and this was the consequence.
"What's your question?" Allen asked again with his calm, almost detached tone.
"Why did you suddenly become Goldborne's representative?" Mila finally asked, though she realized it was the same question James had posed earlier. But there were only two of them here, she hoped for different answers.
Allen frowned slightly. "I told you, I can't explain it now. You'll find out at the conference." His tone was firm but not unkind.
Mila pressed on, her curiosity gnawing at her. "So, I assume you—or maybe Jordan Goldborne—will announce something at the conference? Something outside the game thing?"
Allen's eyes narrowed slightly, but he gave a small nod. "More or less."
Mila's heart pounded. She needed to know more, to understand what was really going on. But every time she asked, Allen deflected. "What is it about?" she asked again, her voice betraying the anxiety she felt.
Allen's expression softened, but his answer remained the same. "It's a secret," he said simply.
Mila's chest felt tight. She lowered her head, trying to piece it all together. Finally, after a moment of silence, she spoke again, her voice low and hesitant. "Did… he set you up with his daughter?" she guessed.
Allen blinked, clearly taken aback. "Huh?" he said, his brows furrowing slightly, unsure if he had heard her correctly.
Mila slowly lifted her head, meeting his eyes once again. There was a bitterness in her expression that she couldn't hide. "Did Jordan Goldborne match you with Emma Goldborne?" she asked, this time louder, her voice trembling with the question.
Allen froze. For a moment, his mind went blank as he processed her words. His lips twitched, and before he could stop himself, he felt a disbelief wash over him.
'Match me with my sister?' he thought, the absurdity of the idea nearly making him laugh out loud. But Mila's serious expression kept him in check, and he knew he had to be careful. Still, he couldn't help but stifle laughter.
Quickly, he covered his mouth with his hand, turning his head to the side to keep from bursting out in laughter right in front of her. The idea was so ridiculous, so far from reality, that he couldn't believe she had actually thought it. And, the image of his father trying to match him with his sister was just too much.
Mila, seeing his reaction, felt her heart sink further. She mistook his attempt to hold back laughter as a dismissal of her feelings, her worst fears being mocked. Her voice wavered. "What's so funny?" she asked, her frustration growing. "Is it really that impossible? Am I that far off?"
Allen turned back to face Mila, his eyes softening as he saw the pain and confusion etched on her face. The laughter that had bubbled up moments before quickly faded, replaced by an understanding of just how serious she had been. The vulnerability in her expression hit him harder than he expected.
"Mila," Allen began, his voice gentle now. "Where did you get that wild assumption?"
Mila hesitated, her heart still pounding. She hadn't meant to blurt it out like that, but that was all she could think of. The tension, the unanswered questions, James' teasing—had pushed her to the edge. "So… no?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes searching for any hint of deception.
Allen sighed softly, shaking his head. "No. That's not what's happening." He paused, then added with a slight smile, "It's not even close."
Mila's relief was clear, but there was still a flicker of doubt in her mind. "You're not lying, right?" she asked, her voice filled with hesitation. She wanted to believe him, but the secrecy still gnawed at her.